Unit 9 Global Changes: Key Vocabulary Terms

chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)

any of several greenhouse gases used for various purposes, including solvents, refrigerants, and aerosol sprays

global warming potential (GWP)

the heat absorbed by a greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, as a multiple of the amount of heat that would be absorbed by the same mass of carbon dioxide

hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)

any compound containing carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine

hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)

any compound containing hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon; produced synthetically and used primarily as refrigerants

infrared wave

electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than those of visible light

Montreal Protocol

an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion

ozone depletion

the destruction of ozone in the atmosphere

ozone hole

an area of very little ozone in the ozone layer

radiation

the emission or transfer of radiant energy as waves or particles

thermal retention property

a measure of how much heat can be absorbed by a greenhouse gas

acidity

a measure of hydrogen ion content in a substance

global climate change

change in Earth's temperature and precipitation patterns

heat capacity

the ability to store thermal energy without a large increase in temperature

ice core

a cylinder of ice extracted from an ice sheet

mean sea level

the average height of the ocean or another large body of water, compared with features on the land

ocean acidification

a chemical process that causes the pH of the ocean to decrease

ocean acidity

a measure of the ocean's hydrogen ion content

ocean heat content

the total amount of heat stored in the world's oceans

photon

a particle that serves as the quantum of the electromagnetic field, including electromagnetic radiation

pteropod

a small mollusk with winglike extensions to its body that it uses for swimming

salinity

salt content by mass

sea surface temperature

the water temperature within the top few inches of the ocean

botulism

an acute food poisoning that is caused by botulinum toxin

containment

the action of keeping something harmful, such as an invasive species, from spreading

decontamination

a method used to prevent the spread of invasive pathogens

extermination

the killing of a whole group of organisms

OCEARCH

a global nonprofit organization that works to return Earth's oceans to balance and abundance